powell



(No'Model.)

J. R; POWELL.

MINBRS SQUIB. No. 302,281. Patented July 22, 1884.

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UNITED STATE-s- JOHN E. POWELL, OE PLYMOUTH, PENNsizLvANm.

VPATENT OFFICE.

MINE'RS SQUIB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 302,281, dated July 22,1884.

Application filed February 14, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in th\e county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Miners Squib, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

lThis invention relates to miners squibs,7 I'o as they are termed, which are used by miners for igniting blasts; and it has for its object to avoid the prematuredischarge of the blast, so that the squib may be used with absolute safety, and without any danger to the life of the miner.

lIhe miners squib as ordi-narily constructed comprises the shell portion to contain the powder or other explosive, and a match to ignite the shell, and which is attached to the 2o front end thereof, the rear end of the shell being provided with a seal adapted to be cut oil' when the squib is to be used, so as to afford a means of communication between the powder contained in the shell andthe blasting-V 2 5 charge. This construction of squib has many disadvantages, principal among which being the necessity of cutting o the seal in orderto use the squib.

One o f the objects of my invention.is to obviate the use of a seal; and to this end I employ a1 shell having its rear end contracted or tapered on" to a point, an opening being left through this point, so that the powder in the shell will readily communicate with the blasting-charge, and yet the small opening at the end will not permit one grain of the powder to escape.

A further object of the invention is to pro` vide improved means for attaching the match 4o to the shell, and in certain details of construction, all as hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view illustrating the manner of using my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the paper shell. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the match. Fig. 4 is a modication. Fig. 5

is a plan view illustrating the manner of cutting out the matches.

Like letters of reference are used to designate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the tubular shell, constructed of a piece of paper twisted into a spiral shape, one end of the shell being contracted or tapered off to a point, as shown atB, an opening,0, being left through said point for the purpose which will be presently described. In constructing this shell the edges of the paper are supplied with mucilage or other adhesive substance, and the body of the shell is rst twisted into the shape shown when the contracted or tapered end B is shaped, the mucilage serving as a means for stiiening the paper band, thus enabling the shell to retain its proper shape. opening C through the paper is left therein in the course of twisting the shell, so that the explosive filling can be poured into the shell without any possible danger of a single grain of the powder'escaping through said opening either during transportation or while adjusting the squib for use.

D designates the match, constructed of a -rectangular piece of pasteboard or other suitable material, coated with saltpeter and water, or other suitable composition, to make it combustible, the inner end of the match being inserted into the front end of the shell, so as to seal said end, and strips E being attached to the match, and secured to the exterior face The smallof the shell, and thus form a rm connection between the match and the shell. By this means I am enabled to seal the front end of the shell by inserting the match in place, the strips on each side connecting the match and shell together, andl preventing accidental displacement of the match.

As shown in Fig. 4, I may seal the front end of the shell with any suitable combustible seal, and then fit the match over the seal, the strips E securingthe match to the shell in the manner above described. For the purpose of providing means for readily attaching the strips to the shell, I preferably coat or saturate the front end of the said shell with some suitable combustible composition or liquid, which will also be adhesive in its nature, so that the strips may be securely applied to the shell, and yet the latter will readily ignite when the nre from the match has reached the shell.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the manner in which I construct the matches l) from a solid piece IOC of pasteboard, a strip of paper being attached to one end of the same on both sides, so that 3o efcient, and will prevent premature disby cutting on the dotted lines shown I am enabled to produce a considerable number o f the matches in a "ery short time.

If it is found desirable, I may stiffen the contracted or tapered end B by saturating it with mucilage or other' substance, and thus the shape of this end will be preserved.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, the operation and advantages of myinvention will be readily understood.

Since the small opening C at the contracted end of the shell will'afford a means of communication between the powder contained in the shell and the blasting-charge, the operation of the squib will always prove successful. By this means I obviate the necessity of cutting oi one end of the shell, as is usually done, since the opening C, though small enough to prevent the passage of a single grain of powder, will enable the blasting operation to be performed Vwithout any danger to the life of the miner.

The attachment of the match is also, an im- 25 portant feature of my invention, since it can be readily applied, and is very cheaply manufactured.

It will be seen that a squib constructed in accordance with my invention is simple and charges with their disastrous results.

l If it is found desirable, I may seal the front end of the shellin any suitable manner, and avoid the use of the match D, before described,

35 by employing a loose match, such as is ordinarily used, to ignite the shell in the manner well known.

Having described my inventionLI claim- 1. 'In a `miners squib, :the shell having a cylindrical body, a match secured to the forward end thereof, and the rear end ofthe squib case or body tapered of to a point, and provided with an outlet or opening through said point, said outlet o opening being so contracted as to p event the passage of the squibcharge, andy allow freeaccess of the dame thereof to the blasting-charge on explosion, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a miners squib, the combination,with the shell, of the match tted in the end thereofand 'adapted to seal the same, and strips. securing the match and shell together, as set forth.

3. In a miners squib, the combination,with the shell, of the match fitted at one end .there- 5 to by means of adhesive strips of papen'or other suitable material, for the purposes set forth.

4. As an improvement in miners squibs, the combination, with the shell constructed 6o with a contracted or tapered end having an opening through the same, of the match pro-- vided with strips connecting it with the shell, asset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 5 my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. POWELL.

Witnesses: v

E. F. DAVIS, EDW. G. SIGGERs. 

